Mining cutter



Feb. 6, 1962 N. FRANKLxN 3,020,031

MINING CUTTER Filed Nov. 18, 1960 29Fig. 5.

Fig. i. Il: 27

v, Il.

" .nite States aient tice 3,020,031 MINING CUTTER Luther N. Franklin, S. Madison Ave., Madisonville, Ky. Filed Nov. I3, i960, Ser. No. 70,167 3 Claims. (Cl. 262-33) This invention relates to mining cutters such as mining cutters used in connection with chain type mining machines for cutting coal in underground mines and the like.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a mining cutter which includes a bit locking mechanism that includes an tovercenter locking mechanism for maintaining the cutter bit in its proper place in the holder or support member.

A further object is to provide a mining cutter of the type described wherein there is provided a locking mechanism which embodies or includes a locking pin or member that has an overcenter locking action so that the cutter bit can be readily locked in place or unlocked as desired, and wherein the present invention is adaptable for use with special bits such as those used on continuous miners, or else it can be used on the usual bits and holders of typical underground cutting machines.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a quick change bit holder for a mining cutter which will permit a bit to be changed quickly and readily and wherein the present invention will provide .trouble free operation or use, and the mining cutter of the present invention being rugged in structure and fool proof in operation and which is economical to manufacture and efficient in use.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification and claims, taken with the accompanying drawings, wherein like parts are referred to and indicated by like reference characters and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the mining cutter of the present invention, with parts broken away and in section.

FIGURE 2 is a sect-ional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE l.

FIGURE 3 is an end elevational view and showing the present invention before attachment to the chain link of the mining machine.

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view showing the position of the locking member as for example when the cutter bit is to be removed from its support member or holder.

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 but showing the locking member and keeper in locked position with respect to the cutter bit, and showing the locking member past dead center.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view looking generally at one end of the locking member.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view looking at the opposite end portion from FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a perspective View of the sliding keeper.

FIGURE 9 is a transverse sectional view taken through the locking member and showing the engagement of the recessed portion of the locking member with the retainlng pm.

FIGURE l0 and FIGURE l1 are views similar to FIG- URE 9 but showing the locking member in different positions.

FIGURE 12 is a perspective view of a chain link to which the present invention is adapted to be secured or attached.

FIGURE 13 is a View similar to FIGURE 1 but showing a modification.

Referring in detail to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGURES l through 12 of the drawings, the numeral 20 indicates a chain link of a mining cutter, and as shown vin FIGURE 12 the chain link 20 includes a body portion 2l which has a slot or cutout 22 in one end thereof that provides a pair of spaced apart flanges 23 which are provided with opposed registering apertures 24, and the other end of the link Ztl is provided with a lug 25 of reduced size which has an aperture or opening 26 therein. This construction permits a plurality of the chain links 20 to be intertted and connected together whereby pivot pins can be extended through the openings 2'4 and 26 for pivotally connecting adjacent or contiguous links together in the usual manner.

According to the present invention there is provided a holder or support member 27 which is secured to or formed integral with the body portion 21 and for example the support member 27 may be welded or otherwise afxed to the body portion 21. As shown in FIGURE 1 for example the support member 27 is provided with a slanting or inclined recess 28 which has a rectangular Iformation in cross section. The numeral 29 indicates a cutter bit which is removably positioned in the recess 28,

Y and the cutter bit 29 includes inclined upper and lower end portions Si) and 3l as well as straight edge portions 32 and 33, and the cutter bit 29 is diamond-shaped in cross section for snugly seating in the recess 28.

The numeral 34 indicates a stop member which projects through an opening 35 in the support member 27, and the stop member 34 is adapted to engage the lower inclined portion 3l of the cutter bit 29 so as to limit downward movement of the cutter bit 29 in the recess 28. The stop member 34 is rectangular in cross section, as for example as shown in FIGURE l, and the opening 35 is of a shape or size to snugly receive therein the stop mem ber 34.

Secured to the support member 27 or formed integral therewith adjacent an end thereof is a shoulder 36 which is provided with a slot 37, and the numeral 38 indicates a keeper which -is slidably mounted in the slot37, FIG- URE 8. The keeper 38 is provided with an inclined upper surface 39 for engaging the inclined end portions such as the portion 3i) ofthe cutter bit 29 so as to provide a means for preventing the bit 29 from accidentally working outwardly from the recess 28. The keeper 38 is also provided with a transverse groove 40.

The shoulder 36 is provided'with a circular opening 4l therein, and the numeral 42 indicates a locking member which includes a cylindrical section 43 that is rotatably arranged in the opening 41, FIGURE 7. The locking member 42 includes a cylindrical projection 44 on one end thereof and the projection 44 engages the groove 4d in the keeper 38, the projection 44 being arranged ott-center with respect to the cylindrical section 43. The opposite end of the locking member 42 is provided with a square-shaped portion 54 whichv is adapted to be engaged by a tool such as a wrench as for example when the locking member is to be turned or rotated.

The cylindrical section 43 of the locking member 42 is provided with a transverse slit 45, and as shown in FIGURE ll for example the outer periphery of the cylindrical section 43 is cut away to deiine a recess portion 46 for engaging a retaining pin 47, andthe pin 47 extends through an opening 48 in the lower end portion of the shoulder 36. The opposite ends of the pin 47 may be peened over as at 49 so that the pin 47 will not accidentally work loose from the opening 48.

Referring now to FIGURE 13 of the drawings, there is illustrated a modied mining cutter which includes a support member 27 that has an inclined recess 28 therein, the numeral 29' indicates a bit that has a shank 50 which is snugly seated in the recess 28', and the' bit 29' also includes an upper section 51 which has a cutting tip 53 suitably secured thereto, and the cutting tip 53 may be of a suitable type such as carbide or diamond type of cutting tip. There is dened or provided at the junction between the shank 50 and upper section 51 a stop section S2 on the bit 29', and the stop section 52 is adapted to engage the upper surface of the support member 27 to limit downward movement of the bit 29 in the recess 28.

The locking mechanism for the device of FIGURE 13 is generally the same as that described in connection with the device of FIGURES 1 through 12 and it will be seen that a keeper 38' is slidably arranged in a slot 37', and the keeper 38' can be moved to a raised position to block removal of the bit 29 from the recess 28', or else the keeper 38' can be moved to a lower position to permit the removal or replacement ofthe bit 29 in the recess 28.

The keeper 3S is provided with a groove 40', and an end of the support member 27 is provided with an opening 41'.

The numeral 42' indicates a locking member which has generally the same construction as the locking member 42 of FEGURE 7, so that the locking member 42 iucludes a cylindrical section 43 which is rotatably arranged in the opening 41. The locking member 42 further includes on one end a square-shaped portion 54 for engagement with a lwrench or other tool, and the square-Shaped portion 54 corresponds to the squareshaped portion 54 of the locking member 42.

The looking member 42 includes the cylindrical section 43' which has the oit-set or off-center protection 44 that engages the groove 49' in the keeper 33', and a slit 45' is arranged in the section 43. There is also provided the recessed portion 46 for engagement with or coaction with the retaining pin 47.

The support member 27 is adapted to be secured to or formed integral with a chain link in the same manner as previously described support member 27, whereby the chain links may be driven by the usual drive mechanism of a mining machine in order to mine or cut coal or other materials, in underground mines.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided a cutter which is especially suitable for use in mining operations as for example when coal is being mined in underground mines. It is to be understood that a plurality of the support members such as the support member 27 and their associated parts are adapted to be used, Vand these support members 27 may be secured to the various chain links 2Q of a continuous chain and wherein such a chain may be driven by a suitable sprocket mechanism or the like which forms part of a conventional Coal mining machine.

With the parts arranged as shown in the drawings, and as shown in FIGURES 1 through 12, it will be seen that the cutter bit 29 is seated in the recess 28, and the bit 29 is diamond-shaped in cross section and is snugly seated in the recess 2S which has a cross section that conforms to the cross section of the bit 29. The stop member 34 limits downward movement of the bit 29 in the recess 28, and the keeper 38 when in the raised position -limits outward or upward movement of the bit 29 from the recess 2S. The keeper 38 is maintained in its upward or locked position by means of the locking member 42, and the member 42 can be readily rotated by engaging the portion 54 with a wrench or the like and then rotating the member 42 and this rotation of the member 42 will cause the projection 44 to move the keeper 3S up o1' down in the slot 37 depending upon which direction the member 42 is rotated. In addition, the section 43 of the locking member 42 is provided with the transverse slit 45 as well as the recess portion 46, and this recess portion 46 is adapted to coact with and selectively engage against the pin 47 so as to prevent accidental rotation of the locking member 42 from its proper position after the locking member 42 has been moved to the desired location.

Due to the provision of the recess portion 46 and pin 47 and transverse slit 45, it will `be seen that when the locking member 42 is in a locked position as for example as shown in FIGURES 5 and l1, the pin 47 will exert pressure through the recess portion 46 to compress the portions of the section 43 on opposite sides of the slit 45 so that these parts will be held or maintained under tension in order to prevent accidental shifting or rotation of the locking member 42. In addition with the locking member 42 in locked position of FIGURES 5 and ll, the arrangement between the pin 47 and recess area 46 will help prevent accidental rotation of the member 42. However, when a tool such as a wrench is arranged in engagement with the square-shaped portion 54, the holding power of the locking member 42 can be overcome so as for example the locking member 42 can be shifted or rotated from a position such as that shown in FIGURES 5 and 11 to a position such as that shown in FIGURES 4 or 9 which is an unlocked position whereby the keeper 33 will be moved downwardly in its slot 37 so that the inclined surface 39 of the keeper 38 will be below the edge 32 so that the lbit 29 can be removed from the recess 28.

Since the projection 44 engages the groove 49 in the keeper 3S, it will be seen that as the locking member 42 is rotated, the keeper 38 will be moved up or down in its slot 37 whereby the keeper can be moved to a locked or unlocked position, as desired or required.

in the modification of FIGURE 13, the support member 27' is adapted to be secured to or formed integral with the chain link such as the chain link Zt, and the cutter bit 29 includes the shank 5G which is snugly seated in the recess 28', and the stop section or shouldered portion 52 at the junction between the upper section 51 and the lower section or shank 50 is adapted to engage the upper outer surface of the support member 27' in order to help limit inward movement of the bit 29' in the recess 2S and valso to help insure that the bit 29' will be properly aligned in the recess 28.

In addition, instead of providing the shoulders such as the shoulder 36 on the end of the support member 27', the slot 37" may be formed directly in the support member 27 adjacent an end thereof, and the keeper 38' is slidable in the slot 37 as the locking member 42' is rotated by means of a wrench or the like engaging the square-shaped end portion S4. The locking member 42 has the slit 45 as well as the projection 44 and the recess portion 45 which function in generally the same manner as previously described in connection with the device of FIGURES 1 through 12.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in dierent shapes or sizes.

The holder or support member is adapted to be secured as 4by welding to the chain links 26 and these chain links are of the type which are massive and are heavy. An important aspect or feature of the present invention is the overcenter locking action which is highly advantageous. The present invention permits a hit to be changed quickly 'and easily. The present invention has a construction which is rugged and which will provide troublefree use, and the improved mining cutter of the present invention can be used with conventional or continuous miners. FIGURES 1 through 12 show the use of the present invention on the usual underground cutting machine chain link, and the bit 29 may be of the throwaway type and this bit 29 is positioned in the broached recess 28 in the holder body or support member 27. The sliding keeper 38 is moved into locking position by turning the member 42 slightly more than one-half turn in a clockwise direction. The locking member 42 is constructed so that a locking action can take place due to the arrangement oi the projections 44 and associated parts, and the bit can be readily locked in place or unlocked as desired or required. The member 34 functions as a stop member for the bit.

The sliding pin or keeper 38 has the groove 40 which extends a little more than vhalfway across its face and about half the depth of the keeper, and this groove 40 is engaged yby the projection 44 on the actuating member 42. The actuating member 42 has the square-shaped end 54 so that a wrench can be used for turning lthe same. There is also provided the deep slot or slit 45 which is cut lengthwise so that the segments or portions on opposite sides of the slit 45 can be compressed at the end of the locking position so that there 'will be less likelihood of accidental rotation from the locked position, and this compressed slit 45 returns to normal position when the locking member 42 is properly rotated and this construction provides the overcenter locking laction. The member 42 has the grooved' or recessed portion 46 partially around the lower circumference of the section 43 to accommodate the retaining rivet or pin 47.

FIGURE 13 shows a holder or support member 27' and special bits 29 to be used on continuous miners.

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details coming Within the ield of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

What is claimed is:

1. In a mining cutter, a chain link including a body portion having a slot in one end which provides a pair of spaced apart anges that are provided with registering apertures, a plurality of links adapted to be pivotally connected together to form a continuous endless chain, said links also including an apertured lug of reduced size for interiitting between the flanges of adjacent links; a support member affixed to the upper surface of the body portion and said support member being provided with a slanting recess of rectangular formation in cross section, a cutter bit diamond-shaped in cross section having a portion thereof snugly seated in said recess, said bit including inclined upper and lower end portions, a stop member rectangular in cross section mounted in said support member and said stop member engaging a lower end portion of the cutter bit, said support member further including a shoulder having a slot therein, a keeper slidably mounted in said slot and said keeper including an inclined upper surface for engaging an inclined upper end portion of the bit, there being a transverse groove in said keeper, said shoulder being provided with a circular opening therein, a locking member including a cylindrical section rotatably arranged in said opening, a cylindrical olfset projection on one end of the locking member engaging the groove in said keeper, a square-shaped tool engaging portion on the other end of the locking member from said projection, there being a transverse slit in said cyliny drical section, the outer periphery of said cylindrical section being cut away to define a recessed portion, and a pin mounted in the lower portion of said shoulder for engaging the recessed portion of said cylindrical section.

2. A mining cutter comprising a support member provided with a slanting recess, a cutter bit having a shank seated in said recess, there being a slot in said support member, a keeper slidably mounted in said slot, said keeper having a transverse groove therein, there being a circular opening in an end of said support membera locking member including a cylindrical section 'rotatably arranged in said opening, a cylindrical ott-set projection on one end of the locking member engaging the groove in said keeper, a square-shaped tool engaging portion on the opposite end of the locking member from said projection, there being a transverse slit in said cylindrical section, the outer periphery of the cylindrical section being cut away to define a recessed portion, anda pin mounted in the lower end portion of said support member for engaging the recessed portion of said cylindrical section.I

3. A mining cutter comprising a support member provided With a slanting recess, a cutter bit having a shank seated in said recess, there being a slot in said support member, a keeper'slidably mounted in said slot, said keeper having a transverse groove therein, there being a circular opening in an end of said support member, a locking member including a cylindrical section rotatably arranged in said opening, a cylindrical off-set projection on one end of the locking member engaging the groove in said keeper, a square-shaped tool engaging portion on the opposite end of the locking member from said projection, there being a transverse slit in said cylindrical section, the outer periphery of the cylindrical section being cut away to dene a recessed portion, and a pin mounted in the lower end portion of said support member for engaging the recessed portion of said cylindrical section, said cutter bit including an upper section above said shank, there being a stop portion deiined between 'said upper section and shank, said stop portion adapted to engage the upper outer surface of the support member, and a cutting tip mounted in the upper portion of the bit.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

